SEARCH HINT
To find interviews with artists in books or periodicals (magazines, journals, etc.) in databases try searching the artist's name in conjunction with the keyword: interview (or interviews).

Artist Monographs and Exhibition Catalogs

An artist's monograph is any book or exhibition catalog published focusing exclusively on one artist. You can find them by searching the CMU library catalog, Cameo and/or WorldCat simply by typing in the artist's name in the search window.

Search hints:
Use quotation around the artist's name e.g. "susanne slavick" using the Books and More option

Biographical Reference

These are just a few examples of reference resources that summarize information on contemporary artists and their work.

Use references such as these with more in-depth information resources such as artist's monographs (a book dedicated to one artist), exhibition catalogs (individual or group shows), museum catalogs, periodicals, and viable open-web resources.

Pendergast, Sara and Pendergast,Tom, eds. Contemporary Artists. Chicago: St. James Press, 2002. HUNT FA-REF-4 N6490 .C6567 2002, 2 Vols. Previous editions by various editors are shelved next to the 2002 edition.
An excellent way to begin research on a contemporary artist. Contains comprehensive biographical information, individual and group shows, publications on and by the artist and a summary statement about the artists work.

Databases

Library Catalogs

Cameo (Carnegie Mellon library catalog online)
Contemporary art is a collecting priority for the University Libraries, so Cameo is a good place to start in finding artist monographs (books on one artist), exhibition catalogs (on individual artists and group shows) and other works such as recordings, videos and CD's.

Use Cameo in conjunction with...

WorldCat a database of library holdings all over the U.S. and internationally including Carnegie Mellon. Subject descriptions are typically more detailed and may not appear in Cameo.

Article Databases
Periodical literature is one of the best ways to look for more in-depth information on just-emerging artists because journals, magazines and newspapers are published more frequently (that is, periodically - thus the term, periodical) and tends to be current or even up-to-the-minute. Some of these databases are full-text and/or in PDF format.
Navigate to CMU LibrariesJournal Search to find out if the journal or magazine you want to access is available in print or electronically at CMU.

ARTbibliographies Modern 1974-present
Citations and abstracts
Journal articles, exhibition catalogs, exhibition reviews, books, dissertations and essays in books or exhibition catalogs. Covers modern and contemporary art, art history, photography and design beginning with artists and movements in the late 19th century, and photography since it's invention in 1839.

Dance in Video
Streaming video of influential performers and companies of the 20th century.

VDB TV is a rotating series of groundbreaking programs presenting essential video art, streaming free for the first time to the general public on the Video Data Bank website. From early media pioneers, to sensational contemporary artists, VDB TV provides unprecedented access to the culturally significant Video Data Bank archive of more than 600 artists and 6,000 video art titles. VDB TV is curated by prominent programmers and moving image art specialists. To advance accessibility to the VDB collection, all programs included within VDB TV feature closed captions for the hearing impaired.

Freesoundhttp://www.freesound.org/Aims to create a huge collaborative database of audio snippets, samples, recordings, bleeps, ... released under Creative Commons licenses that allow their reuse.

Studio Cutz

Each CD covers a unique theme, with titles such as "Acoustic Brew" and "Silly Stuff" with 60 second edits, 30 second edits, and short edits (or stingers) of each song. Search "Studio Cutz" in CAMEO for a complete listing.

Open Access Web Links

These are examples of reliable free web resources. Use these alternatively with established print resources, databases or online resources you trust.

Art21 Magazine Blogfrom the website:
"Art21 was founded in 1997 with the belief that contemporary visual art is of real interest and value to a broad audience. By making contemporary art more accessible through public television and the Internet, Art21 affords an intimate encounter with contemporary art and the people who make it, encouraging creative thinking and self-expression.

Artcylopedia (John Malyon, Alberta, Canada)
Free-web encyclopedia of thousands of links to artists and their work with introductory biographies for each artist. Includes a glossary and handy gateway to museum links worldwide.

e-flux
A publishing/curatorial platform and archive for contemporary art, culture and theory internationally. If you subscribe to the e-mail newsletter be ready to receive two or three messages a day announcing and describing international projects.

Modern and Contemporary Artists and Art
A free-web resource with 20th-21st century artists biographies and photo portraits, selected images of artists works. Also includes images and links via art movements or medium. Site began in 1998, based in the Netherlands and is hosted at Hostmysite.com in the United States. Partners with the for-profit sector, so expect promos and advertisements that may not be related to your search. Artists and galleries can also pay to be included in the site.

Universes in Universe: Worlds of Art
Visual arts from Africa, Asia, the Americas in the international art context; international calendar of biennials; exhibitions, news, projects, articles, publications....

Organizations

Dia Art Foundation
Mission: " advancing, realizing, and preserving the vision of artists." Commissions artist projects, organizes exhibitions, realizes site-specific installations, and collects in-depth the work of a focused group of artists of the 1960s and 1970s.